Paterson reel ball bearing diameter?

[Kyle M.]

Does anyone know the diameter of the ball bearings in the Paterson reels? Years ago I removed them from my reels at someone's suggestion and to be honest they were much easier to load IMO with the ball bearings in place. I recently acquired a large assortment of ball bearings in various sizes and am hoping to replace them. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[LimeyKeith]

Does anyone know the diameter of the ball bearings in the Paterson reels? Years ago I removed them from my reels at someone's suggestion and to be honest they were much easier to load IMO with the ball bearings in place. I recently acquired a large assortment of ball bearings in various sizes and am hoping to replace them. Thanks in advance for any help.

One I've just removed from a damaged reel is 3mm in diameter.

 

[gone]

I had a reel that was missing the ball bearing. Ace Hardware has boxes of individual ball bearings, believe it or not, and I found the size I needed w/o any trouble. Just brought the bearing out of the other reel w/ me and matched them up.

 

[Kyle M.]

One I've just removed from a damaged reel is 3mm in diameter.

Thank you. I will check my assortment and see what I have.

 

[Kyle M.]

I had a reel that was missing the ball bearing. Ace Hardware has boxes of individual ball bearings, believe it or not, and I found the size I needed w/o any trouble. Just brought the bearing out of the other reel w/ me and matched them up.

Unfortunately I no longer have any of the old bearings. My local ACE doesn’t carry them I found that out when I was looking for ball bearings for another project. That’s how I ended up buying the assortment.

 

[MattKing]

One I've just removed from a damaged reel is 3mm in diameter.

Are you sure? That seems rather large. I don't have any of the Paterson reels at hand - they are with my backup darkroom equipment - but my AP clone reels have ball bearings that look to be about 1 - 1.5 mm.

 

[koraks]

3mm looks about right according to my paterson reel & caliper.

 

[Kyle M.]

Are you sure? That seems rather large. I don't have any of the Paterson reels at hand - they are with my backup darkroom equipment - but my AP clone reels have ball bearings that look to be about 1 - 1.5 mm.

3mm is .118", 1/8" is .125" and I was able to get 1/8" ball bearing to fit in there and it seems perfect. Anything smaller seems like it would fall right back out.

 

[LimeyKeith]

Are you sure? That seems rather large. I don't have any of the Paterson reels at hand - they are with my backup darkroom equipment - but my AP clone reels have ball bearings that look to be about 1 - 1.5 mm.

I can only report what my vernier calipers tell me.

 

[AgX]

For a ball-wedge based ratchet design the ball must be of a size that it in its "idle" position under its spring loading it touches the strip to be fixed, but at best still can rotate but nonetheless builds up enough friction to be rolled up against the wedge part if the strip is pulled in that direction.

 

[OAPOli]

I replaced one of those with a 1/8" (3.2mm) BB and it works fine. Just make sure it's properly chrome plated. Mine wasn't and it's a bit rusty now.

 

[AgX]

Chrome plated steel balls?
Who would need such, so that they are widely available? Maybe for decorative use, maybe avaiulable from decoration vendors.

There are stainless steel balls used in certain ball bearings. Using such would be the better way to do.

 

[OAPOli]

You are correct. I think the Paterson BBs are stainless (slighly magnetic, less than steel).

 

[MattKing]

I can only report what my vernier calipers tell me.

Which is why you are sure.
As I say sometimes to my wife, "Are you sure?" isn't the same as "You are wrong!"